Something Interesting Happened at Our House.

This morning I had an interesting experience with Sarah. Sarah, who is closing in on 5 years, still uses a sippy cup. She can also drink through a straw but the use of a regular cup has eluded her as the majority of the liquids runs down her chin and all over her front and the floor, etc.
Her oral motor delays are the culprit and this is an issue we have worked at a little but her teachers have really been working with on. I am ashamed to say at home it is much easier to give her a sippy cup and not worry about the mess. But the reality is it is a skill she needs to learn and we have been lacking in our aggressiveness in this area. Actually using a cup is pretty complicated although we all do it multiple times each day. Any OT will tell you there is a lot involved. Just think it through. All the muscles and coordination involved, its pretty complex. You must lift the cup, hit the target (which you can't see--your mouth), cup your lips and sip using your tongue to push the liquid back in your mouth, then sip more and also keep it from running out at the ends of your mouth, etc., etc., etc. So you see...not really that easy. Okay...I've digressed. What happened this morning is this. I offered Sarah a drink of water first thing in the morning. She is thirsty and highly motivated so I gave it in a regular cup. I give some support under her chin and help her hold the cup too. (I need more hands and arms!) So she had a drink and then after we had worked a bit I poured the rest into a sippy cup and offered it to her. SHE PUSHED IT AWAY!! She wanted nothing to do with it! Yippee!! So I went back to the regular cup, put a bib on her and that is all we used this morning for drinks. Is that cool or WHAT??? She wants to be a big girl!!

MOPS

I returned Sunday from Orlando,Florida where 4 of the gals (myself included) from the steering team of our chapel's MOPS group spent a long weekend attending the MOPS convention. It was great and really did what everyone said it would...recharge us about the mission of MOPS which is to reach every mother of preschoolers for Christ. Because....better moms make a better world. And since a mother's influence is so far reaching if she can influence her children for Christ then they influence others too and it snowballs from there. Too COOL. There was rest for this weary mommy (although we did stay up late talking), there was relaxation too (hot tub!) and there was even entertainment as we got to see some good performers--Go Fish and Sarah Groves. Our worship was led by Matt Redman who was really good. The speakers were also very informative and funny and often shared personal stories of how God had worked in their own lives. It was just great. I have to thank MANY, MANY people for making it possible for me to go. Sarah (my sister) and I sat together on the plane ride down and we counted out some of the caring individuals who made the experience possible for us from relatives who watched our kids, our husbands who supported what we are doing, our Dad for taking us to the airport, to our chapel for helping fund this expedition, etc... It is my prayer that the words that touched my heart will be things I can take and share with our MOPS group, that I can use those words and be a better mom, and that in so doing other moms, my children and other children will be influenced for Christ.

Seasons

We are fast approaching fall and I can't help think about how much I love that season. I really enjoy all the seasons but fall has a special place in my heart. Crunchy leaves on the ground, apples, holidays, my boys birthdays, cool days.....
Today I pulled out some fall clothes for Timothy while Sarah was away at school. This involved some reminiscing about Andrew...and Jacob...wearing those same clothes. Changing seasons....
And then when she was home I cuddled those 2 not so little ones on my lap. I looked down at the two heads snuggled close against my chest, so close to each other they were touching and could not help but recognize this pose from years ago when I held my newborn twins together in my arms....one blonde head, one brown head....changing seasons....and yet bits from the previous season blend into the next...helping make the transition sweet.